Initial unemployment claims were below in...>

US DATA: Initial unemployment claims were below expectations in the 

Sep 8 holiday wk, -1k to 204k vs 209k expected, now the lowest since the 

Dec. 6, 1969 wk. Claims were revised up to 205k from prev 203k in the 

Sep 1 wk. Claims have been below 220k for 10 straight weeks, but could 

bounce up in the coming weeks on the impact of Hurricane Florence and 

other storms. 

- The 4-wk moving avg -2,000 to 208,000 in the Sep 8 wk, the lowest 

since the Dec. 6, 1969 wk (204,500). The avg would fall further next 

week if the headline figure does not change as the 210k level in the Aug 

18 wk rolls out.                                     

- NSA claims -11,665 to 161,892 in the current wk, compared with the    

10,655 decrease that seasonal factors expected in the holiday week. The 

current wk's level is well below the year ago level of 211,923, but that 

comparison is severely tainted by the hurricane impact a year ago.

- Claims were estimated for Maine only.                                     

- Continuing claims -15k to 1.696m in the Sep 1 wk, low since the Dec. 

1, 1973 wk (1.692m). The 4-wk avg -8,250 to 1.711m, the lowest since the 

Nov. 24, 1973 wk (1.706).